Things I Wore (and Did) in January 2018

If January isn’t for snuggling with your dog, then what’s it for, anyway? Looking back on my photos from this month, it’s clear I spent a lot of time inside the house bundled up and petting, snuggling with, and admiring my dog—which is exactly how I like spending my winters.

Other highlights include:

Dinners and brunches with friends (I love my friends and I love having friends, which is kind of a new-ish thing for me!)

Winning an award for a project I managed at work (!)

Attending the Women’s March

Going to my first-ever local drag brunch with my husband

Taking a Skillshare writing class

Working in therapy to try to see things more positively, stick up for myself, please others less, and put myself first

I also got sick with a terrible cold and tried (and failed) to get Hamilton tickets that won’t cost me all 10 of my fingers and toes. You win some; you lose some.

In 2018—which is my 30th year on this earth—I’m doing my best to really focus on the things that are important: the people I love, including myself. I have been working hard this month to treat those close to me with kindness and also to prioritize my own mental and physical health and well-being.

It’s really easy to find excuses not to put yourself first. While I’m quick to tell others, “treat yo’self!” I’ve only tended to use that phrase as a reason to spend money frivolously and eat whatever I felt like. Those were easy ways for me to feel like I was treating myself, but really, I was just kind of giving in to habits that made me feel good in the moment but overall left me troubled. I’m doing my best to reign both of those habits in and to focus on actual, true self-care, which (for me) includes tackling the sometimes tedious or difficult things that are good for me. I think, in addition to living with less fear in 2018, I’m also trying to embrace moderation. We’ll see how it goes.

In all, January was a good month, and I feel like making it through it means that spring is just within reach.

Here’s what I wore!

(Special appearance by Obi, who is wearing a sweater from my grandma)

Outfit details

Dress: Amazon

Tights: WeLoveColors.com

Boots: Payless

Necklace: 25 Central

Outfit details

Shirt: Old Navy

Jeans: Old Navy

Boots: DSW

Outfit details

Sweater: Old Navy

Leggings: Kohl’s

Boots: From my mom

I wore this to the Women’s March, which I felt was the perfect shirt. I didn’t attend last year’s (I was too depressed) but was thrilled when some friends invited me to attend this year, and the march left me feeling really empowered and strong. This is the same one (in pink) that Frank Ocean wore in concert a while back. The shirt is available from Green Box Shop, which is a small business owned by a young woman of color. Check it out! (The one downside about the shirt is it wrinkles really easily, but I love it otherwise!)